Throughout the autumn term we have been delivering pilot tours of the Bob and Tamar Manoukian Production Workshop in Purfleet, to a hugely positive response from those local schools that attended. Our state of the art, purpose-built building is where craftspeople and technicians create the scenery for productions and is set in the glorious surroundings of the High House Production Park.

Tours will be open to a greater number of primary and secondary schools and further education colleges from mid-2012, and will provide an opportunity to find out more about the backstage crafts and the people who work behind the scenes at the Royal Opera House.

The experience includes a tour of the workshop building, a virtual resource packed with educational games and films and a practical workshop exploring backstage crafts, delivered by a Royal Opera House practitioner.

Creative INSETs

"In 15 years of teaching and quite a few music INSETs, in my experience this has been the best; thank you."

Autumn term has been a busy time in Thurrock with teachers from 11 schools in Essex holding In service training day (INSET) sessions at the production park. Schools were offered a choice of creative workshops based on themes that teachers wanted to explore, and Royal Opera House Education found practitioners to deliver them. Teachers chose from sessions focussing on set making, creative writing and singing.

Creative INSETs can be full day workshops or twilight sessions, and include a tour of the Bob and Tamar Manoukian Production Workshop as well as refreshments and/or lunch.

For more information about Creative INSETs email us and if you have participated in a workshop or tour we would love to hear about your experience with us.